Georgian Parliament Speaker raises EU flag in front of parliament after right-wing groups burned one last night
Georgian Minister of Foreign Affairs Davit Zalkaliani posted on Facebook that the EU flag has returned to its 'rightful place' as a symbol of the 'historic and unalterable' choice of Georgian people. Photo: Davit Zalkaliani/Facebook.
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Georgian Parliament Speaker Kakha Kuchava has raised the European Union flag in front of the Georgian parliament building in the capital city of Tbilisi this morning after violent right-wing groups burnt EU and LGBT flags last night.
The groups shut down a ‘silent’ demonstration held outside the Parliament of Georgia yesterday which was meant to protest the violent events of July 5.
Kuchava posted photos of him raising the EU flag on his Facebook page, saying that ‘destruction of the EU flag is unacceptable'.
Integration into European and Euro-Atlantic structures is a historic choice of the Georgian people and we will definitely move forward on this path…! We must remember that we all have one homeland whose history, traditions and religion have nothing to do with violence", Kuchava wrote on Facebook.
Kuchava also posted on Twitter:
Georgia stands firm by its value-based choice of #European integration as the #EU flag hangs high in front of the Georgian Parliament! ???????????????? pic.twitter.com/SErXEIkW5u
— Kakha Kuchava (@kkuchava) July 7, 2021
Georgian Minister of Foreign Affairs Davit Zalkaliani posted on Facebook that the EU flag has returned to its 'rightful place' as a symbol of the 'historic and unalterable' choice of Georgian people.
Georgian culture has always stood on European values and at the same time, after gaining independence, our country has done a lot to get closer to Europe politically and economically... The violent acts that have been taking place in our capital for the last two days are completely unacceptable, and I condemn the attack on the media representatives and civilians", wrote Zalkaliani.
Georgian Dream MP Aluda Gudushauri said that 'we, the Georgian Dream party, have written in the constitution the unwavering will expressed by the Georgian people, that is the European Union and NATO [integration]'. He said that the attempt to 'move the arrows' towards the Georgian Dream is 'a weak attempt'.
We condemn all forms of violence, such shameful behaviour is unacceptable", he said.
A large 'silent' demonstration was held last night at Rustaveli Avenue to protest the violence against journalists and storming of Pride organisers' offices the day before. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
A large demonstration involving political party figures, Tbilisi Pride organisers and independent citizens started at 8 p.m. local time outside the Parliament of Georgia on July 6, to protest the violence against journalists and storming of Pride organisers' offices the day before.
With participants of the solidarity rally having left the space outside the parliament venue, and journalists having been moved by officers away from the site, the aggressive groups of the counter-demonstration again took over the location.
They removed the EU flag raised by the solidarity rally for the second time in two days, with footage and reports indicating it having been burnt on the site. A brief footage of a piece of fabric burning on the steps leading to the parliament venue also showed a protester cheering and wishing the same fate to queer individuals.
Right-wing agressive groups occupied the space in front of #Georgia's Parliament building in #Tbilisi. They took down the EU flag and have burned it. pic.twitter.com/WmuSU7PPTI
— agenda.ge (@agenda_ge) July 6, 2021
Today the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that police detained 100 activists of violent right-wing groups from last night's counter-demonstration.
The US Department of State has called on Georgian leaders and law enforcement ‘to protect the constitutional right to freedom of expression’ following violent attacks against journalists and civic activists at the Tbilisi Pride counter rally by right-wing protesters on July 5.
Police have detained 100 activists of violent right-wing groups who shut down a ‘silent’ demonstration held outside the Parliament of Georgia yesterday to protest the violent events of July 5. "At this stage, 100 people have been detained. Of the detainees, 68 have been released…while 32 remain in temporary detention”, reports the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia.
Injuries to citizens and law enforcement have been reported from ongoing protests on Rustaveli Avenue as items including stones and pieces of iron rods have been observed thrown from violent right-wing counter-demonstrators. Participants of the peaceful protest against July 5 violent scenes have reportedly asked police to use riot units - located nearby according to law enforcement officers - against the violent groups whose attacks have left police professionals and citizens injured.
Police have made arrests on Rustaveli Avenue in Georgia's capital, where a protest involving political opposition and independent citizens against the July 5 violence is being countered by a rally of right-wing groups involved in Monday's incidents against Tbilisi Pride organisers and reporters deployed to cover it.
European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi has met with Georgian Parliament Speaker Kakha Kuchava earlier today and expressed gratitude to the parliament of Georgia for returning the EU flag ‘to its place’ after right-wing protesters burnt it earlier on July 6.
"There is no discrimination against differing opinions or lifestyles in Georgia”, Georgian PM Irakli Garibashvili said earlier today during a meeting with European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi. PM Irakli Garibashvili underscored that the foreign policy course of Georgia is Euro-Atlantic and is supported by the vast majority of the population, which ‘will not change.’
European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi has stated that the European Union stands by Georgia during a joint press conference with Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili earlier today. Oliver Varhelyi said that Georgia has overcome its recent political crisis and it is now possible to start working on a new stage of cooperation.
Council of Europe’s rapporteur on the rights of LGBT people in the South Caucasus Christophe Lacroix has condemned the acts of violence which occurred in Georgia during Tbilisi Pride week.
Defiling of the flags of the EU and NATO, as well as flags and other symbols of foreign organisations Georgia belongs to, may become punishable in Georgia.
The Georgian parliament has adopted a bill which imposes a fine of 1,000 GEL (about $322/€285) for defacing the flags of the EU, NATO and countries with which Georgia has diplomatic relations, along with symbols of international organisations.